Chassis-lubricating fitting



April 28, 1931. v. M. DIRKES ET AL `CHASSIS LUBRICATING FITTING Filed Sept. 18, 1929 y other'factors that have been the cause of anvnoyance and failure in the past.

Patented Api. 28, 1931 UNITED f STATES PATE NT OFFICE i I Y u. planas am) cani. nVDIRXItS, F DET/30113 MICHIGAN i cnlassIs-nunmcarme rIlTING..

i n Application llled September 18, 1929. Serial No. 393,431.

i This .inventionrelates to lubricating apparatusfand more particularly to an improved 'metering device intended primarily for use with s .-called'central lubricating sys- Itfis sometimes'desirable to equip a machine or a group of machines having several bearings or other parts that require frequent lubricationl and which may be located in more or less inaccessible places with a system wherein' separate condults or branches lead l to each part to be lubricated from an easily accessible single source oflubricant supply.

Usually, the apparatus is so arranged that ressure applied at the supply source forces ubricant` to the several bearings at the same time but unless some control mechanism is provided, some of the parts. will receive too much lubricant while others will not receive enough. Several schemes heretofore devised to regulatethe amount of lubricant supplied individual parts of a series, have been successful to a certain extent but none of the familiar devices are entirely reliable and fool-proof under all conditions. To provide an improved device lof simple and economical construction to overcome the diiiiculties and avoid the objections of those devices now lin use is one'ofthe primary objects of this inve'ntion.

It is a further object of the invention tol provide a positive regulator for each bearing which will supply no more nor less than a predetermined measured charge upon each application of pressure under'all conditions, regardless ofl thev pressure value, viscosity or temperature oftheiiuid, response or action of other regulators in the system, number of Abearings to be lubricated `and their relative distance from the source of supply, or any Another-object is to provide an improved and novel meter valve which will eliminate the diiliculty oi leakage and wherein the parts Vwill act promptly and be restored or returnedV to' original position quickly as soon as pressurelin the system is relieved so as to beimmediately ready for use again should it times in succession.

A still further object of the invention isrto provide a fitting to which a new charge of lubricant may be supplied for subsequent discharge to the bearing at the same time that a measured supply is being forced to the bearing under the pressure applied at the central source.

Additional objects and features of advantage will become apparent during the course of the, :followingspecification when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view t'o illustrate the relation of the several parts of a pressure lubricating system.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve device embodying the present invention. y

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view of a modi fication.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. i f EFig. 5 is a section showing a modified cuto Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates an oil or grease gun or other suitl able container or reservoir for lubricating Vmaterial to 'be placed under pressure and device 3. When pressureis applied at the source of supply, the lubricant iiows through the conduits to the several bearin s as will be apparent, the amount allowe to reach each bearing being controlled by a regulator valve such as will now be described.

The metering device may be fashioned as illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein 5 is a barrel y or cylinder .which provided the lubricant chamber or reservoir 6. One end of the chamber 6 is closed by the wa1l-7 which.

may be formed integrally with the barrel and provided with a Screw threaded hollow extension 8 for attachment with a supply line or conduit leading from thesource of lubricant'under pressure. The opening throu h` the extension 8 forms a passageway 9 for t e lubricant flow and is provided with a por- Ition of reduced diameter leading to the I with a bearingmember. Within the chamber 6 is located a piston or movable .wall 15 which is to vbe thrust upon the introduction of lubricant under pressure through passageway 9 against the tension of a coil spring 16, to force lubricant in the chamber out throu h the opening 17 in the bottom wall 11 and through the hollow extension 12 to the bearing.

Extending through the piston is a shaft flf'r stem 18 having an enlargement or piston j head 19 at one end in the passageway) and ofY substantially the size o the reduced bore 10, and having its opposite end screw threaded for the adjusta e engagement thereon of a sleeve or nut 20 which is normally heldy at one end in contact with the undersideof the piston 15 bg) a coil spring 21. This collar or sleeve forms, in eiect, a valve, which when seated against the piston, closes one or more by ass ports 22..in the iston, the opposite en of the sleeve being a apted to seat on'the bottom wall 11 and close the outlet port 17 at one limit of its movement. Several of these devices ,will be employed in the system, one being located at each bearing and each device operating entirely independent of the others to discharge a measured quantit -olubricant tottheparticular bearing, t e volume of discharge being verned by the size of the lubricant cham r 6 and extent of piston travel therein. When pressure is ap lied on the lubricant at the source of supp y, Athe lubricant flows through the passageway'9 bypassing around the si es of the head or piston 19 and acting on the main piston 15,the bypass port in whic is closed by the valve device 20. As the pistou 15' is forced in, the lubricant on the outlet side of the iston is discharged through the outlet 17, t erpiston carrying with it 1n its movement the valve 20 and piston head 19, until the head 19 entiers the reduced ortionof the passageway at 10. The close fit of the head 19 in the reduced portion 10 serves in effect to cut off the supply of lubricant to the chamber and, therefore, pressure on the piston 15, whereby the piston 15 momentarily Y remains stationary or lags behind the movement of the valve device 2O which continues to move because of the pressure acting directl; on the head 19 to which it is connected, t e valve 20 continuing its movement until it bottoms on the wall 11 and closes the outlet 17. As soon as the piston 15 and valve 20 separate the bypass port 22 is uncovered, to establish communication between opposite sides of the piston, and the tension of the portion 'springs 38 and spring 16 acts on the piston 15 to restore it to original position and allow the lubricant to flow through the bypass `port' and take the plate of that which was discharged on the pressure stroke. Thus the one application of vpressure not only sup lies the bearing with a given amount of lu recharges the lubricant chamber.

So long as pressure continues in the system, the head 19 will be held in the reduced of the bore and the outlet 17 kept closed. It will be understood that' pressure is maintained in the system until each .-in the line until the head passes beyond the reduced bore when the lubricant will flow freely around the head as it moves through the 'passagewayI 9 t'o its original position. The return of t e ly and successive discharges may be immediately made upon repeated applications pressure at the source of su ply.

The spring 21 is preferab y stronger than the spring 16 in order to oer suiiicient resistance to hold the valve 20 against movement independent of and faster than the piston l15 and so prevent uncovering of the bypass ports in the piston 15 prior to the entrance of the head 19 .into the restricted portion 10 of the entrance passageway. By making the spring 21 fairly stiff, a quick return of the parts is also insured. i

The volume of lubricant supplied to a bearing in primarily controlled by 'size of the lubricant chamber. It is also dependent upon length of piston travel, which may be varied to some extent by theadjustment of the valve 20 on the threaded stem 18, whereby the entrance of the head 19 into the reduced portion 10 of the inlet passage relative to the position of the main piston 15 in its travel may be regulated.

lieu of the construction 'ust described,

the alternative form illustrate `in Fig. 3 may be em loyed. In this case, the piston 30 is of slig tl smaller diameter than the interior of the cy 'nder 31 so that clearance is rovided at the peri her of the piston 30. e stem 32 carriedb the valve 33 for the bypass ports 34 of t e piston carries a conical ead 35 which is a apted to seat on the tapered shoulder 36 of the intake passageway 37 to shut oi the supply of lubricant to the piston 30 after the piston 30 has been moved down against the tension of the two 39 to eject the lubricant through the outlet 40. Because of the clearance provided at the marginal edge of the piston, the lubricant above the piston bypasses the piston and as soon as the valve 35 reaches its seat and cuts 0H pressure on the parts will be effected quick-l ricant but it also -of the metering devices has discharged its piston, the springf38 starts to return the piston and immediately opens the bypass ports l 34 to accelerate the return Yand allow the lubricant to pass from one side to the other of the piston. The operation and structural details are otherwise as before described exf cept that in the arrangement of the parts as i A shown the bottom of the valve 33 does not seat over the outlet 40. With precise dimensioning, the valve 33 could be seated over the outlet 40 simultaneously with the seating of the valve 35, but the .parts are preferably and intentionally made otherwise to eliminate vthe necessity for accurate machining and fit- 1s ting. Furthermore, it is found that with the use of grease and other heavy lubricant, there is little need for sealing the outlet,

i since the seating of the head 35 cuts off pressure when the measured charge of grease has been fed to the bearing. However, should it beA desired to positively close the outlet when (pressure is relieved, then there may be provi 1n Fig. 5 or of other suitable conformation to secure a good seal. With thearrangement of Fig. '5, the line pressure is cu't oil, on the main piston as soon as the head 19 enters the reduced bore l0 and the head continues to move until it seats on the shoulders 36.

While the above description has been of a more or less specific character, the invention is not necessarily limited to the exact details referred to and it is to be understood that such modifications can be readily made as are within the scope of appended claims.

` We claim Y 1. In a ressure fluid system wherein a measuredvc ar e of fluid 1s to be supplied upon each app ication of ressure, a measuring device including a c amber of a volume corresponding to the desired amount of fluid to be sup lied, a partition wall in said chamber mova le upon the application of fluid under pressure upon one side to eject fluid on'the other side thereof and a valve element carried by and movable with the wall for cooperation with a fixed seat in the device after the partition wall reaches a predetermind osltion to preclude the further action of uid undery ressure on the wall.

2. In a pressure uid system wherein a measured charge of fluid is to be supplied upon each application of. pressure, a measuring device including a chamber of a volume corresponding to the desired amount of fluid to be supplied, a" partition wall in said chamber movable upon the application of fluid under pressure upon one side to eject fluid on the other side thereof and a valve element operable when the partition wall reaches a predetermined position to preclude the `further action of fluid under pressure on the wall and place opposite sides of the partition wall in communication with each other.

A 3. A fluid pressure system wherein a measured charge of fluid is supplied upon each application'of pressure, a measurin device, including a chamber,a movable wa l in the chamber comprising separable parts which are initially movable in unison under the action of uid under pressure, one of the parts havin a portion which automatically precludes vt e pressure fluid action on the other part after a predetermined travel to separate said parts and uncover communieating ports between opposite sides of one of said arts.

. 4. n a. fluid pressure system, wherein a measured charge of fluid is supplied for each Operation of the system, a measuring device including a container of a givencapacity, a g

piston movable in the container under influence of fluid under pressure ron one side thereof to eject under pressure the fluid on the other side of the piston, elastic means` to return the piston when pressure thereon is relieved, and a valve device associated with the piston and operable when the piston reaches a predetermined position to shut off the supply of fluid under pressure and open a port in the piston, whereby to equalize pressures on opposite sides of the piston. and permit its return under influence of said elastic means.

5. The structure of claim 4 together with means to restore the valve device after pres- `sure in the system is relieved.

6. A' pressure lubricating system for supplying a measured'charge of lubricant for each application of pressure, including a chamber for lubricant, a wall movable in the chamber todischarge lubricant on one side thereof under the action of lubricant under pressure on the other side of the wall, means carried by the wall in its discharge movement to automatically cut off the lubricant under pressure to the chamber after a predetermined ran e of movement and for so long as the applie pressure continues in the system,

and other means to bypass lubricant from one side to the other of the wall and return the wall to its original position while the first mentioned means is active.

7. A pressure lubricating system for supplying a measured charge of lubricant for each application of pressure, including a chamber for lubricant, a wall movable in the chamber to discharge lubricant on one side thereof under the action of lubricant under pressure on the other side of the wall, means carried by the wall in its discharge movement to automatically cut off the lubricant under pressure to the chamber after a predetermined range of movement, a valve for a bypass port 1n the wall which remains ciosedl during the application of pressure on the wall and opens-when the pressure on the wail is relieved, and an expansible spring bearing` on the wall to return the wall to or1ginal position andI force the lubricant l through the bypass port; from one side ofthe wall to the others each application of pressure, including a i `metering chamber for lubricant, a pistou movable in the chamber to discharge lubricant on one side thereof under the action'ofy pressure supplying lubricant to the other side 1 thereof, a lspring against the tension of which the pistonjis movable under the action of pressure thereon, a'bypass port in the piston ton u n the ap iication of lubricant under. c po po ger carried by said valve deviceto -s ut oil the dow of lubricant under` pressure te said chamber after a predatorto provide communication between opposite. sides thereof, and a valve device to close the port movable with the piston and having a portion which automatically closes o the supply of lubricant'to the chamber at a'predetermined point lin-l 'the range of piston movement and uncovers said bypass port.'

9. Ametering device for e pressure' lubneating system. to regal of 'lubricant under pressure on one side thereof to Veject lubricant on the other side from the chamber, a valve device closing a pc-rt in the piston and movable with the pispressuA s mem mined range of piston movement and move the valve device to uncover said port, a spring bearin on the piston to restore the piston after t el pressure in the chamber is cut ci and force the lubricant through the port from one side to the other of the piston, and a spring to restore the valve device after pressure in the system is relieved. v

10. A metering device for a pressure lubricating system'to regulate the amount of lubricant suplplied at each application' of pressure, inc uding a lubricant, chamber, a passageway leading to the chamber having a portion thereof of reduced size, a piston movable in the chamber under the action of lubricant supplied through said passageway under pressure to charge the chamber, a second piston movable in said passageway and of a size substantially corresponding to the reduced portion of the passageway, an extension on the second piston projecting through the first piston and having a portion for contact with the first piston to close a port therein and to carry the second piston with the first until it enters said reduced portion of the passageway, whereby pressure on the first piston is ate the amount of lubri= z cant supplied at each application, of pres.- sure, including a lubricant chamber,.ap1ston in the chamber movable upon the application cut olf and acts on the second piston tomove said contact portion away from the port and place opposite sides of the first piston in coin-4 munication.

11. A metering device for a. pressure lubrieating system' to regulate the amount of lubricant supplied at each application of pressure, including a lubricant chamber, a passageway leadingto thechamberhaving a portion there-i of oi' reduced size, a piston movable in the chamber under the action of lubricant supplied through said passageway under pres- Y sure to charge the chamber, a second piston -movable in said passageway and of a size substantially corresponding to the reduced portion of the passageway, an extension on the second piston pro1ecting through the first piston and having a portion for contact with the rst piston to close a rt therein and to carry the second piston with the first until it enters said reduced portion of the passageway, whereby pressure on the first piston is cut oi and acts on the second iston to move. said contact portion away rcm the port and place opposite sides of the first piston in communication, a spring t-o restore the first piston and push lubricant through said port Ifrom one side to the other, and a spring to restore the second piston after pressure in the stem is relieved. 12. A metering device for a pressure'lubrieating system to regulate the amount of lubricant supplied at each application -of vpressure, including a lubricant chamber, a

passageway leading to the chamber having a rtion thereof of reduced size, a piston movable in the chamber under the action of lubricantv supplied through said passageway under pressure to charge the chamber, a mov-l able valve device adapted to seat over the outlet from the chamber at one limit cf its movement and to seat over a bypass rt in the piston at its opposite limit, a spring to hold the valve device over the piston port during piston movement on its pressurestroke, a second piston movable in said passa eway of substantially the size of the reduce portion, and a connection between the valve device and the second piston, whereby the second piston is moved with the first iston on the pressure stroke until it enters t e reduced'portion of the passageway when the lubricant under pressure acts on the second piston to move the valve device olf the bypass .ort and over the outlet against the tenslon o said springs, and a second spring active on the first piston to restore it to original position.

13. A metering device for a one shot lubrieating system comprising a metering chamber .having an inlet for connection with a source normally urge it toward the inlet end of the chamber, said parts when subjected to pressure from the source being arranged to travel toward the discharge end of the chamber to force lubricant out of the chamber through the outlet, one of said parts being provided In testimony whereof We aix our signaf tures.

CARL E. DIRKES. VINCENT M. DIRKES. 

